Paying Attention

I find it to be very true that our attention can be easily compromised. Buddhists are accurate in saying a person has a monkey mind that is constantly jumping from one branch of thought, memory, interest, worry, want, etc to another. Every day in every task I bring back a wandering attention only to have it jump or drift again after as few seconds or minutes. I assume that is typical for human beings. Attention to that which is top priority to me keeps my attention focused the best and wandering the least. Being in a situation with minimal external distraction helps keep my attention focused. What helps me bring back my wandering attention is a need to focus, and the stronger the need the easier I bring back wandering attention. What also helps is practicing discipline in maintaining focus and in bringing my wandering attention back as I notice it wandering. For me that discipline is essentially to force myself to focus.

Philosopher Eknath Easwaren teaches that meditation can help us train our attention. When we are aware of our monkey mind at work, we are simply to go back to the beginning of the passage we are trying to ingest. Each time we wander, we must go back to the beginning. Eventually, we will absorb what it is we wish to understand or retain.

Thank you for your response. Yes, for sure, meditation and going back to the beginning can help.